Why Airlines Are Rethinking Flights to Cuba

Cuba has announced that airlines will no longer be able to refuel at several of the country’s main airports, including Havana’s José Martí International Airport, as the island grapples with a worsening fuel shortage.

The warning, issued to pilots and airlines, reflects a broader effort by Cuban authorities to ration energy amid shrinking access to petroleum supplies.

Officials say political pressure from the United States has effectively severed Cuba’s access to key fuel sources, particularly shipments from Venezuela and Mexico. Recent U.S. measures threaten tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, further discouraging deliveries and tightening an already strained supply chain.

The impact on aviation has been swift. Some airlines have suspended flights to the island, while others are adjusting operations by carrying extra fuel or refueling in third countries such as the Dominican Republic or Mexico. Long-haul routes have been hit hardest, raising concerns for Cuba’s tourism sector, a vital source of foreign revenue.

Beyond aviation, the fuel shortage is rippling through daily life. Public transportation has been cut back, cultural events postponed, and banks and public services are operating on reduced schedules. Power outages and long fuel lines have become routine, drawing comparisons among residents to past periods of severe economic hardship.

Cuban officials have not said how long the restrictions will last, leaving airlines, travelers, and residents facing continued uncertainty as the energy crisis deepens.